Same Ol', Same Ol'

Today’s Verse:

Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation. ~Daniel 5:12

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Sometimes when an old acquaintance and I see each other, we will ask how the other is doing. Often times, one or both of us reply by saying, “Same ol’, same ol.’” This is a way of saying, “I’m still the same! Nothing is changed. I’m the same person doing the same old things as you knew before.” In many ways, it is a comfort and great relief that someone you haven’t seen in a long time is still the same. In our passage of Scripture this morning, Belshazzar, the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, is the king of Babylon. He was startled by the appearance of a man’s hand that wrote a message on the wall of his banqueting house. He wanted to know the meaning of the message that was written, but none of his “wise men” could decipher it. His lords and the queen told him about Daniel. They told him the same Daniel was the man who interpreted the dreams of his grandfather, and could do the same for him. What a powerful description concerning Daniel: “the same Daniel.” That description of Daniel speaks to us about the importance of being faithful and steadfast.

Daniel was the same in his convictions.

The first thing mentioned about Daniel is that he purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the king’s meat and wine (Dan. 1:8). A conviction is something you believe so strongly in that you will not change that belief. He had unchangeable convictions about his testimony. He determined to live for God, even though he had been moved to Babylon. He had unchangeable convictions of the truth. The first time he interpreted a dream for Nebuchadnezzar, he told this king about a stone cut out without hands that would destroy all kingdoms. He was referring to none other than God and His kingdom. As he stood before this powerful, pagan king, he made the truth known that there was only one God, Who is all-powerful and mighty. Daniel was unwavering when it came to his convictions concerning God.

Daniel was the same in his capacity.

Daniel was a man in his 80s when he appeared before Belshazzar. The queen and his lords said that “the same Daniel” can interpret what he saw. Capacity refers to how much you can handle, how much you can do, and how much you are. Daniel was just as much a man who was faithful, filled with the Spirit, and of an excellent spirit at that moment as he was in the past. Trials, disappointments, and growing older did not alter his capacity. Men who walk with God do not diminish in their spiritual capacity as they grow older. We see this in Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Elijah, Elisha, Samuel, Paul, Peter, and John. Acts 21:16 speaks about an old disciple named Mnason. He was a man who had great capacity. The more you are filled with the Spirit, the more you can do for the Lord.

Daniel was the same in his capability.

The reason they thought about Daniel was because at critical times in the past, he could solve the king’s dreams. Being the same in capacity means we should be able to do well what we have done in the past. As teachers, we should teach well. As prayer warriors, we should pray well. As servants of the Lord, we should serve well. As friends, we should be of a same spirit. It’s a great testimony to the Lord when people see the same faithful faces (along with new faces) singing in choir, practicing in orchestra, witnessing to others, and being productive in whatever they do.

Daniel was the same. He was steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Are you the same? Are you the same in doctrine, duty, and devotion? Are you the same in public as well as in private?

Have a steadfast God Morning!

Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 119:89-176

#Daniel #Faithfulness #Steadfastness